Today's News

The third annual Suwannee River Open Bass Tournament benefiting the North Florida Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was held April 3. The event was held at Clay Landing in Chiefland from safelight until 3:30 p.m.

A total of seven of the 15 boats were able to bring five fish limits to the scale.

The husband and wife team of Davey and Kerrie Parrish were able to best the rest of the field of accomplished anglers. Their five fish limit weighed 11.75 pounds and earned them $337.50 for the day and very nice trophies.

Levy County children who do not participate in athletic leagues but join in recreation programs will be the beneficiaries of a change in the county's recreation funds policy.

The County Board of County Commissioners approved the policy change to allow the $60,000 annual budget — $12,000 per commissioner, to be spent on more than athletic activities by a 3-1 vote. Commission Chair Nancy Bell cast the dissenting vote. Commissioner Marsha Drew, who initiated discussion several months ago to change the policy, was absent from Tuesday's meeting due to illness.

Steve Liles of Chiefland is one of those folks affected by the ash coming from a volcano in Iceland, but he's not among the folks stranded by it.

Far from it — literally and figuratively — the Cross City hardware store operator and associate pastor at Lighthouse Word Church is in Kenya on his 22nd mission trip in 26 years. He left Florida for Kenya on April 13, well before the ash became a problem .

He was going ahead to complete arrangements for a missionary medical team traveling from Valdosta, Ga., to join him.

For Chiefland High School’s varsity softball team, there are four components to the game that, when executed, lead to winning.

Good pitching, aggressive baserunning, solid defense and timely hits. In fact, Indians coach Ginger Fuller put up a poster with these words before the season in a place where everyone on the team can see it.

And Monday night, these components paid off as No. 1-seeded Chiefland topped No. 4 Bell 9-6 in their District 2A-5 Softball Tournament first round game.

On the surface, next week’s District 2A-5 baseball tournament appears to be a battle between haves and have-nots.

Chiefland High School is fortunate enough to be in the former, powering its way to be a district contender this year. Bronson High has struggled, especially during the early portion of the season. According to the standings, the Eagles are among the latter.

Paddlers from around the area gathered last Saturday for the 33rd Annual Wild Hog Canoe and Kayak Race.

The annual event, held along the Waccasassa River near Otter Creek, raises money each year for the Levy Association for Retarded Citizens. AMVETS Post No. 88, based out of Bronson, also helped organize the event.

Though final numbers for this year weren’t available, last year’s race raised more than $10,000 for LARC, making the race one of the groups largest fundraisers of the year.

The Town of Bronson has extended the demolition of a condemned house for one more week. The Council voted 4-1 Monday night to give owner Ella Baumbach one more week to complete the demolition, or the Town will do it for her. Some minor progress has been made, said Bronson Building Official Robert Niffenegger, including partial removal of the roof.

In January, a final extension of 15 days was given to Baumbach to have a licensed contractor complete the demolition of the structure. Last month, the Town gave Baumbach another 15-day extension.

On April 22, the city of Fanning Springs will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with USDA Rural Development with a tree planting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at Fort Fanning Historical Park. For more information, call Fanning Springs City Hall at 352-463-2855.